Pipe testing machine



Dec120; 193

w. BRITTAIN PIPE TESTING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1956 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY wad/4a flTTOEA/EYS Dec. 20, 1938. w. E F'uTTAm 1,140 892 PIPE TESTING MACHINE" Filed May 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR- WILL/AM DR/TTA/N ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a machine for testing pipes, more particularly earthenware pipes but also applicable for testing concrete pipes.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the testing of pipes whereby considerable time can be saved.

The invention consists of a strong wooden frame constructed of two end standards attached to two longitudinal sole plates suitably braced and reinforced, or the frame may be constructed wholly of metal; on the end standards are mounted plumber blocks carrying a longitudinal shaft upon which are mounted a number of rocker arms, the number depending upon the size of the machine. At each end of the rocker arms is'a vertical spindle threaded at its upper end provided with a tension nut, this spindle passes through a block and the lower end is attached by a bolt to an iron disc, to the underside of which is attached a disc of rubber or other suitable resilient material which contacts with the top end of each pipe to be tested, the bottom end of the pipes stands upon a resilient disc which rests upon an iron plate on the longitudinal sole plates of the frame.

Between the end blocks of the rocker arms and the lower blocks of the iron disc is a spiral spring.

Connected to each iron disc is an exhaust air cock controlled by a hand lever, the air cocks are interconnected by rubber or other flexible hose 30 and are all controlled by a hand lever from one end of the machine.

The water for testing is supplied through pipes and suitable connections to each pipe to be tested and each connection is fitted with an independent valve controlled by hand levers connected thereto.

The main water supply pipe is controlled by hand levers for inlet and outlet.

Upon the main shaft is mounted a cog sector which meshes with cog gearing for reducing the speed from the driving motor.

A double pawl engages with a rack wheel for holding the pressure of the springs used for testing the pipes, this pawl is operated from the lever end of the machine.

To fully describe the invention reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:--

Fig. 1 is a front and side elevation of the machine in perspective.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the driving gear at the rear end in perspective'showing the double acting pawl.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the water supply pipes.

Fig. 4 is an elevation to small scale of the rocker (Cl. 7s-51) arms showing the discs andthe spiral compression springs, and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the iron and rubber discs and spiral compression springs showing the end of the rocker bar and air pipe. 5.

Fig. 5A is an enlarged view of the exhaust air cocks and of the lever for operating the same; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the double-acting pawl, the rack wheel, and the double crank lever.

The reference numerals serve to indicate corresponding parts in all figures.

l is the frame work of themachine which when constructed ofwood, is suitably braced and is attached to sole plates la, super-imposed upon which are wooden and metal plates lb on which are placed rubber discs 2 provided with central holes for-the admission of water by supply pipes 3 through valves 4 which are operated by levers 5 for controlling the supply of water. 20

6 are discharge valves for the outlet of the water after the pipes are tested; these are operated by levers l and connecting rods la; to the ends of the water supply pipes 3 are fitted pressure gauges 6a.

The water for testing is admitted to the pipes through branch pipes from the main supply pipes underneath the superimposed plates lb which are holed to coincide with the central holes in the rubber discs 2: to these pipes are fitted valves 8 and levers 8a which are operated independently by hand in order to cut off the water supply to any one of the pipes during testing if required. 9 shows one of the pipes in position for testing.

Connected to each of the composite discs 20 is an exhaust air cock I0 fitted with a lever or key Illa; these cocks are inter-connected by flexible hose II and are all controlled by hand levers I2 at one end of the machine. The flexible hose pipe I I is connected to T-pieces Ila. 20 are iron and rubber composite discs.

I3 is the main shaft mounted upon and keyed to which is a cog sector l4 and a number of rocker arms I5, the number depending upon the size of the machine: this shaft is supported by plumber blocks I30. at each end of the machine in which it partially rotates,

The rocker arms are constructed of two metal plates l5 distanced apart in their centres and ends by metal blocks l6, and extend equally on opposite sides of the shaft l3.

In the end blocks are holes in which are inserted vertical spindles l1 secured by tension nuts I8: around this spindle I1 is fitted a spiral compression spring l9; to the end of the spindle I1 is fitted by any suitable means an iron and rubber composite disc 20 which together with the rubber disc 2 holds the pipe in position for testing.

The cog section l4 engages with cog gearing for reducing the speed from the driving motor 2| but instead of cog gearing being employed the machine may be driven by worm gearing or by any other suitable means.

22 is a double acting pawl which intermittently engages right and left with a rack wheel 23 and is operated by a lever 24 and double crank lever 25 from one end of the machine for holding the pressure of the spiral springs I 9. The rack wheel 23 is associated with the train of gearing .from motor 2| to cog sector l4, so that engagement of the pawl 22 with the rack wheel 23 will lock thetrain of gears in one direction. This direction will depend upon the chosen position of the double acting pawl 22 as manually controlled from the lever 24.

26 is a metal strap attached to the main shaft l3. A pointer 26a is attached to the strap 26 so that rotation of shaft l3 also swings the pointer 26a. 21 are pressure indicators of any standard type for indicating the pressure applied to the pipe on either side of the machine according to the size of the pipe being tested, 28 are electrical switches of the push-button type operating the reversible motor 2|, while 29 are thepush-buttons, one of these push-buttons being used to start the motor, while the other is used to stop it.

Minor modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In operation, the pipes to be tested are placed on the rubber discs 2 and are held in position by the composite discs 20, the rocker arms on one side of the machine exerting pressure on the rubber discs, whereby a water-tight joint is formed.

Then the water supply from the bottom of the machine is turned on by the handle 5, the exhaust air cocks H] are opened by the draw-bar l2 and the levers Illa, the air in the pipes being forced out by the incoming water and the pressure in the pipes registered on the pressure gauge. The discharge valves 6 are opened by the connecting rods 1a. The pipes are then removed and the testing is finished. V

The rocker arms may be swung over to the opposite side of the machine for testing the pipes placed in position on the rubber discs.

The operation can be repeated until all the pipes to be tested are finished.

What I declare as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

In a machine for testing pipes having a frame for holding the pipes under test, the combination of a main shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a plurality of rocker arms fixedly mounted on said shaft, spindles fitted to the ends of said rocker arms and each carrying a pipe engaging disc for closing one end of the pipes under pressure, a plurality of rubber discs mounted in said frame for closing the other end of said pipes, means for supplying fiuid to said pipes under testing pressure comprising main supply pipes having control taps and discharge cocks, levers for operating said control taps and separate levers including connecting rods for operating said discharge cocks, pressure gauges fitted to said main supply pipes, branch pipes connected with said main supply pipes having manually and independently controlled taps, and means for rotating said shaft to increase the pressure of the engaging discs on the ends of the pipes so as to retain the fluid under test pressure Within the pipes being tested.

WILLIAM BRITTAIN. 

